Early history of the St Ives Estate is not clear. To the west lies Catstones moor with the 'Catstones Ring',
a scheduled ancient monument. The age and purpose of these remains is not known and it is thought that they may
be from Iron Age or Roman times1. On the St Ives Estate there is an earth work, known as the 'Fairfax Entrenchment'.
Again, we do not have a clear idea as to what function this served or who built it. This too may be of a similar age to the
Catstones Ring but this is only conjecture. Dr A Z Redmond2 has researched the known history of the area in a report
for the Friends of St Ives that was funded by 'Heritage Lottery Fund'. It is from information in this report that most of the following short notes have been derived.

From the large number of items found in the upper part of the estate and dating from the Neolithic-Bronze Age, we know
that the area has been occupied for a long time. From the 12th Century to the dissolution of the monasteries in 1540, the main area of the Estate was part of the properties belonging to the Monks of Rievaulx, having been given to them by
Adam de Birkin between 1165 - 85. The deeds covering the transfer of the land also includes the instruction that the land be
free from secular dues. This was indicated by patriarchal crosses on buildings, two of which were later transferred to more
recent buildings and can be seen to this day. One is located on one of the gables of the old coach house near the mansion and
the other is on the gable of the old hunting dog kennels at Cuckoo Nest. Some of the land that now falls within the Estate
(White Cote) was owned by the monks of Drax. Monastic ownership lasted up to the dissolution when the Estate passed to Walter
Paslew of East Riddlesden in 1540.

For most of the next century, land in the area was owned by the Laycocks and the Milners two families well linked to the
history of the Bingley area. Another notable family in Bingley was the Ferrands, who purchased Harden Grange in
16363. However the St Ives of that era was the property we now know as Harden Grange. In 1858 the two names were exchanged.

Whilst General Fairfax and his troops may have camped on the estate, the facts have yet to be verified. It is almost
certain that they did not make the 'Fairfax Entrenchment'. There are however compelling stories that 200 of Fairfax's
troops died and were buried on the estate.

Regrettably, Druid's Alter, just outside the Estate and overlooking the Aire Valley; never saw Druids or the rituals
that our 19th century ancestors loved to imagine.

Recent history in a nut shell

1165 - 1185

Adam de Birkin gives estate to the monks at Rievaulx

1540

Walter Paslew aquires land at the dissolution of the monasteries

1590 - 1636

Nathaniel Birkhead

1636 - 1674

Robert Ferrand purchases Old Harden Grange in 1636

1674 - 1699

Benjamin Ferrand (1624 - 1699) Inherits the property

1699 - 1711

Robert Ferrand (1647 - 1711) Inherits the property

1711 - 1742

Robert Ferrand (1687 - 1742) Inherits the property

1742 - 1803

Let to Thomas Middlebrook and others

1803 - 1835

Walker Ferrand lives here after Edward Ferrand Inherits
the property

1835 - 1839

Mrs Walker Ferrand (widow)

1839 - 1889

William Busfield Ferrand alters and further enlarges the
house

1858

St Ives and Harden Grange exchange names

1889 - 1927

William Ferrand

1928

St Ives bought from executors for £ 39,000 by
Bingley Urban District Council

1974

Bingley Urban District Council becomes part
of Bradford Metropolitan Council

Note

Those looking into the monastic history should be aware that several
names are used. Perhaps most commonly: referring to 'Harden Grange' as 'The Grange at Halton'.

Ref. #2 'A report of the archaeo-historic heritage of the St Ives Estate, Harden, Near Bingley,
West Yorkshire',
By Dr A.Z. Redmond Phd BSc(Hons.) 2007, Prepared for the Friends of St Ives in conjunction with the
City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council and under the authority of The University of Bradford.

Ref. #3 Fragments relating to the history of Bingley parish. By J A Busfeild 1875.

Notes for genealogists

There are a few things to watch:-

If you have an ancestor that lived at 'St Ives', could it have been 'Harden Grange'. Remember that they swapped
the names in 1858.

You have an ancestor that has the right name but the dates of birth do not match, don't despair, many had the same
name, so you may just be looking at the wrong one.

Those inheriting the property may have been required to change their name to Ferrand, under the terms of the will.

Michael Ferrand has brought the Ferrand family tree up to date and a copy of this is on the wall; in the visitor centre.